The Dallas Cowboys and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams both want a long-term deal done. Williams has admitted he wants to stay in Dallas. The Cowboys have admittedly placed him at the top of their priority list for extensions. 

The question isn’t whether both sides are motivated. The question is whether the conditions are right to get it done quickly. Upon further review, this deal is begging to get made. Below are a few reasons why I believe it’s just a matter of time. 

The Cowboys have seen the leaves fall

Perhaps the most important factor working in favor of a Quinnen Williams extension is the market’s benchmark at defensive tackle. The Cowboys have shown in the past that they prefer to let the market settle before committing to a big contract. Jerry Jones said as much during the CeeDee Lamb negotiations a couple of years ago when he said he wanted to see the leaves fall. Once Justin Jefferson signed his deal, Dallas had its reference point and went to work.

That same dynamic applies here. Tennesse Titans Jeffrey Simmons signed an extension this offseason worth more than $35 million per year. Just a few days ago, Jalen Carter landed a 4-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles worth $38 million per year, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in football. The Eagles also signed Jordan Davis at $26 million per year earlier this offseason. And after trading a top-10 pick for Dexter Lawrence, the Cincinnati Bengals signed him to a one-year, $28 million deal.

It remains to be seen where Williams will fall within that group, but the ballpark is firmly established. That should make negotiations significantly smoother for both sides.

Williams is the Cowboys’ best defender

There’s a football argument for getting this done, too. Williams is the best overall player on the Dallas defense. The Cowboys don’t have a star edge rusher right now, which means Williams is their premium pass rusher even though he works from the interior. Dallas is in the middle of rebuilding its defense, and Williams is the team’s best chance at anchoring that unit with a legitimate superstar.

Locking him up long term sends a message about who the Cowboys want to build around on that side of the ball.

The cap math works in Dallas’ favor

Then there’s the financial incentive (and leverage for the Cowboys). Dallas enters the 2026 season with roughly $5.5 million in cap space. Williams currently carries a $21.6 million cap hit for this season. One of the easiest ways to create breathing room would be extending him, potentially dropping his base salary closer to $5 million.

According to Over the Cap’s projections, an extension could open nearly $15 million in cap space for the Cowboys. That kind of flexibility matters, especially after Jones alluded to exploring the trade market during the team’s opening press conference. Even if Dallas doesn’t spend that freed-up money right away, rolling it over to 2027 would still put the organization in a stronger position.

Additionally, Williams being under contract for another two years gives the Cowboys some leverage, as it could be particularly enticing for Quinnen to get a deal done now, especially since he has no guaranteed salary in 2027. 

The to-do list is short

Here’s a bonus reason to get it done sooner rather than later: there’s not much else on the Cowboys’ plate. Dallas decided to let wide receiver George Pickens play on the franchise tag, and the window to reach a long-term extension with him has closed. Compared to previous offseasons, the Cowboys’ to-do list is remarkably small.

That’s an advantage. With fewer competing priorities, the front office can dedicate its full attention to hammering out a deal with Williams before the regular season begins. The market is set, the need is clear, and the cap math supports it.